Dave Caldwell begins job as UA’s new poultry science head
by October 16, 2019 3:53 pm 1,180 views
The University of Arkansas has hired Dave Caldwell as the new head of the poultry science department. Caldwell succeeds Mike Kidd, who has led the department and the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science since 2010. Kidd, a full professor, is moving back into faculty.
As the new department head, Caldwell will have a joint appointment with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. With Bumpers College, he’ll be responsible for teaching. Within the Division of Agriculture, he’ll have research responsibilities within the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and public outreach with the Cooperative Extension Service.
He started his new appointment Tuesday (Oct. 15).
“To me, the job was quite intriguing,” Caldwell said in a statement. “I’ve always been impressed by the Tyson building on campus. For a poultry science department to have a facility of that size and scope is truly impressive.”
Caldwell was most recently head of the poultry science department at Texas A&M University. He earned all of his degrees at Texas A&M: a bachelor’s in poultry science, as well as a master’s and a doctorate in veterinary microbiology.
Caldwell said he plans to grow enrollment among graduates and undergraduates.
“I’m very passionate about the academic piece,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed teaching and mentoring students.”
Mark Cochran, vice president-agriculture for the UA System and head of the Division of Agriculture, said he’s eager to have Caldwell on board.
“Dave comes to us steeped in the land grant mission and with a deep understanding of the poultry industry and its importance to Arkansas and the nation,” he said. “We look forward to seeing his energies spent bringing new vigor to the department.”